Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
B rynn climbed the ladder up the side of the ship. The biker behind her gave her a vicious shove.
She looked down and glared at him.
“Move it,” Nomad barked from above.
She pulled herself onto the deck of the cargo ship, and saw Nomad talking with some of the ship’s crew. They all had blank-faced looks that said they had no interest in getting involved in anyone else’s business.
She’d get no help there.
Brynn kept her face blank. She wouldn’t give Nomad the satisfaction of seeing her fear. They had no idea that she was wearing a tracker.
Vander would come.
She just had to hold out until then.
She scanned the flat deck of the ship. It was a bulk carrier, so she saw the huge covers over each of the holds. She swallowed. Nomad had no doubt been using shipping connections to bring his drugs in.
She got shoved again and they walked inside the raised tower at the back of the ship. She knew the bridge would be at the top, various accommodation levels in the center, and the engine rooms beneath. They moved into a tight corridor.
Nomad led them down some stairs, down another narrow corridor, and into a room.
It was some sort of cabin with no windows and tight quarters. She was shoved into a chair and her hands roughly tied behind her back.
“So.” Nomad paced in front of her. “I finally have you where I want you…Detective Sullivan.”
She raised a brow. “It took you long enough to work out who I was, Tony.”
He scowled, then quick as a snake, backhanded her on her already bruised face.
Ow . She bit her lip and tasted blood. Her eyes watered. “I’ve been doing some digging on you, Tony. I heard that your last motorcycle club wasn’t happy with you. You kept wanting more, overstepping.”
His mouth flattened. “I’m smart and take initiative. My boss appreciates that. He sent me here to expand the business.”
Brynn made a scoffing sound. “He sent you here to get you out of his hair.”
His jaw worked. He leaned over, grabbed the front of her shirt and twisted. “I will succeed here. I’m setting up the Stardust supply in San Francisco, and for icing on the cake, I’ll hand my boss the head of Vander Norcross. I’ll be a legend .”
Brynn laughed. She leaned forward, laughing so hard that tears leaked out of her eyes.
Nomad stepped back, glaring at her.
“You… Think…” She kept laughing. “You think you can take Vander?” She snorted. “He’s going to destroy you, piece by piece.”
“No, he won’t. Not when I have you. His weakness. What I’ll do to you will break him.”
She felt a skitter of raw fear but met his gaze head on. “You’ll die today, Tony, regardless of what you do to me.”
The biker just smiled. “I have a huge shipment of drugs on this ship. It’s busy being packaged for distribution.
I’m going to make you hurt, and then I’ll watch Norcross lose his shit, get sloppy, and die from my bullet in his brain.
Then I’ll make lots of money.” Nomad straightened.
“Now, I need to go and check on my product.”
He gripped her chin and she tried to yank free.
“I’m gonna let you sit here and wait until I’m ready to play with you, Detective Brynn Sullivan.” He released her and strode to the door. “Watch her.”
The two burly bikers near the door crossed their arms over their chests.
Brynn’s stomach rolled. Hurry, Vander.
* * *
Night had fallen.
This area of the port was quiet and shrouded in shadows.
Saxon, Rhys, Easton, and Hunt stood nearby. Ace had his computer set up near one of the X6s, tapping quickly.
Vander stared across the water. The lights of several ships glinted in the dark, but he focused on the Reliance Express .
He wore a black wetsuit. How many similar missions had he stood like this, readying to go into battle? Usually he’d be calm, using his nerves to fuel him.
But the stakes on this mission were high.
Brynn .
She was his. His confident, smart ass, courageous detective.
He sucked in a breath and stared at the ship again. It was a mile and a half offshore.
The others were dressed like him, talking out the plan.
Vander turned. “I’m going alone.”
“What?” Hunt barked.
Saxon frowned. “Vander—”
“Hunt, you aren’t trained for a water assault. Saxon, you’re well aware that the more of us who go in, the more likely they’ll spot us. That increases the chance that Nomad will kill her.”
The men all scowled. Rhys put his hands on his hips. “You can’t go alone. What if you need backup?”
“I’ll have it.” He glanced across the water. “Brynn.”
“Vander, it’s almost two miles to swim in the dark,” Hunt said.
Rhys coughed. “That’s a walk in the park for Vander. He can do that in his sleep.”
“I’ve hacked the ship’s systems,” Ace said. “They have a couple of CCTV cameras. No sign of Brynn. I can see lots of movement and lighting on. Best I can guess, she’s likely one deck down, starboard side. Just above the engine room.”
Vander nodded. “If you see anything else let me know.”
Ace nodded. “Sure thing.”
“Jesus.” Hunt swept a hand through his hair. “Our family is in chaos. They’re all worried.”
And Hunt was worried. There were deep grooves on either side of his mouth.
“I’m bringing her home.” Vander’s voice vibrated with dark promise. He’d get her off that ship, even if he didn’t make it back.
Hunt stared at him for a long beat, then nodded. “Bring her home.”
Vander shouldered a small, waterproof backpack with his Glock inside and a few other goodies.
He had a knife strapped to his thigh and a few other things hidden.
He nodded at his friends.
Then he dove into the water cleanly. The cool water seeped around him, but his suit offered him good protection. He kept Norcross Security well-stocked with top-of-the-line gear.
He rose and looked at his friends.
“Good hunting,” Rhys said.
Saxon and Easton nodded.
Hunt met his gaze. “Bring our girl home.”
“I’m going to tell her that you called her a girl,” Vander said.
Hunt’s lips quirked, but he still looked grim. Vander knew that Hunt would welcome a punch or sharp barb from Brynn right now.
Vander stuck his expensive, experimental rebreather in his mouth, then sank into the water.
Cold silent darkness closed around him. He kicked powerfully, heading toward the Reliance Express .
He focused on stealth, careful not to leave any ripples or splashes.
I’m coming, Brynn.
* * *
Her arms were going numb.
Brynn subtly kept working to loosen the ropes on her wrists.
The two bikers weren’t paying her much attention, talking trash to each other, and occasionally sending scowls or leers her way.
Nomad hadn’t returned.
She felt a slight bit of give in the rope and kept working.
“The man’s got plans for you, Princess,” the biker with a large gut and long hair said.
Princess? Ugh
“Oh, yeah. He’s gonna mess you up.” The other biker was younger, and high on something. He was filled with nervous energy and couldn’t stand still, occasionally tugging on his shaggy, dirty-blond hair.
“He’ll let us help mess you up,” the older biker guffawed.
“Charming. You good guys will have such a great time when I lock you in a cell.”
They both laughed.
“You’re tied to a chair, Princess. When we’re done with you, that man of yours won’t even touch you.”
Her stomach rolled, but she kept her gaze bored.
“Yeah, Nomad likes to brand people,” the younger one said, ugly excitement in his voice. “He’s got a way with a hot rod.”
The other man laughed. “And he doesn’t just stick to the outside.”
Brynn hid her grimace. Just when she thought these assholes couldn’t get any worse.
She redoubled her effort to loosen the rope and get free. She couldn’t just wait for Vander.
She needed to get off this ship.
The rope released.
Yes .
She freed one wrist, then the other. She was careful not to alert her captors. She rotated her shoulders gently, getting some feeling back into her tingling arms.
Right . Now she needed to deal with Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
“She’s a hot piece.” The younger biker moved closer.
Yes, come a little closer.
As the biker sauntered toward her, she gripped the length of rope in her hands.
She tried to look nervous, and swallowed a few times.
That just made him smile. He twitched again, then touched her leg, sliding it up her thigh.
“I’m a leg man. You have nice ones.”
“Sorry, I like my men a little taller, stronger, and smarter.”
His brow creased. The older biker chuckled.
Fury filled the younger guy’s face. His body twitched again. “You’ll like me just fine, baby, when I shove my cock in you.” He leaned in. “I might start with my tongue down your throat, for a little taste.”
“Blue, don’t get too close to her,” the older biker warned. “She’s Nomad’s.”
“I’m not gonna make her bleed. Yet.”
His hot, unpleasant breath washed over her face.
Brynn exhaled slowly, then she whipped her hands up and snapped the rope around his neck.
Blue’s eyes went comically wide.
“Sorry, you’re just not my type,” she said.
She surged up out of her chair, and yanked the rope on both ends. It went taut and he choked. He clawed at his neck.
She rammed into him and he stumbled back. She kept the rope tight, and kicked him. He slammed into the wall.
She pulled harder, and his face started to turn purple. Then she heard a roar behind her.
Brynn dodged to the side, and the older biker slammed into his friend with a grunt. Blue slid down the wall.
Brynn grabbed the chair she’d been tied to, and swung it.
It slammed into the older biker’s face with a crunch. Wood splintered.
He bellowed and rushed her. A giant fist swung at her.
She ducked, then snatched up a broken arm of the chair and spun.
The biker, face twisted with anger, came at her again.
She ducked. Then she landed a solid front kick to his heavy gut. The air rushed out of him. She rammed the chair arm into his shoulder.
“Argh!”
As he staggered, she leaped up and executed a perfect roundhouse kick.
Her boot connected with his head.
He flew to the side and collapsed on top of his moaning friend. Quickly, Brynn used the rope to tie the men’s hands together.
“Well, it’s been a pleasure, boys. Sit tight. I’ll have that cell ready for you in no time.”
She swiveled. Time to get out of here.
She patted down the bikers and found a knife. Not much, but she could work with it.
Slowly, she opened the door and peered out. The corridor was empty.
She slipped out of the room.
Silently, she padded down the hall. She came to a junction. She wasn’t exactly sure of the quickest way out.
Suddenly, she heard echoing voices getting closer.
Crap .
She turned and opened the closest door. It was a small cabin, thankfully empty, with a narrow bunk, and built-in desk and cupboard. She slipped inside.
Leaning against the wall, she waited, the door ajar the tiniest fraction. A moment later, two men—sailors by the looks of them—walked past her.
She released a breath, then slipped back out.
Get to the top deck, get off the ship, then swim to shore. Nothing to it.
Then she heard something and paused.
What was that?
Her gut churned. It had been the smallest scrape of sound, but now she heard nothing. Her mouth went dry. She didn’t hear anything, but she just knew someone was close. She was also well aware that at any moment, Nomad could be back and find her missing.
She needed to be off the ship before that happened.
She heard a faint noise again. Was it a footstep?
It didn’t matter. She needed to go.
She lifted the pocketknife and hurried down the corridor. Now, she just needed—
A body in black came around the corner and she collided with the man. Hard arms closed around her.
Brynn whipped the knife up, and it took her half a second to register that she knew that wet body pressed against her. She knew it intimately.
“Vander!”
He cupped her cheeks, then kissed her.
God . The fear leaked out of her. He’d come. Just as she’d known he would.
He broke the kiss. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, and took in his damp wetsuit. “You swum out here?”
He nodded.
God, her man. He was totally in love with her.
“Let’s go,” she said. “I left two groaning bikers back there, and Nomad will find them soon.”
Something moved through his eyes. “I come to rescue you, but of course, you’ve rescued yourself.” He stroked her cheekbone.
“What did you expect me to do?”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “Come on.”
His strong hand grabbed hers, squeezed, then released her. She knew he needed his hands free.
All of a sudden, shouts echoed through the ship.
Uh-oh . She was pretty sure someone had discovered Blue and his friend.
“Move,” Vander said urgently.
She followed him, moving fast. He paused, and held up a fist. Voices were coming down the corridor to their left.
Shit .
He swiveled and they backtracked. They raced down another passageway, and passed another junction.
“Wait,” she whispered. “There are stairs down that way.”
He turned back and peered down the cross passage. But a second later, several bikers spilled into the corridor.
“Vander!” she yelled.
He was already moving. His brutal punches and kicks were a blur.
Soon, the bikers were all writhing on the ground, groaning.
She grinned. So badass.
Then she felt a gun barrel at the back of her neck and froze.
“Drop your weapons, Norcross,” Nomad said from behind her. “She won’t be so attractive with a bullet hole in her head.”
Vander rose in that sleek wetsuit that emphasized his muscular frame.
“Drop your weapons,” Nomad said again.
Vander pulled out his Glock and the knife off his thigh.
“Vander, no,” she said.
The gun barrel jammed harder into her flesh and she winced.
Vander dropped his weapons on the floor.